Story Highlights

BOSTON (AP) — Claude Julien wanted his Bruins to play more aggressively in the third period. The Boston coach got his wish with the help of some shaky defense by the New York Rangers.

A rare rough day for goalie Henrik Lundqvist certainly helped, too.

Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic scored in the final period after Johnny Boychuk broke a tie in the second, Lundqvist gave up more than four goals for the first time in 152 games, and Boston beat New York 5-2 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

"Some games you're going to get more goals, some maybe less," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said, "but the important thing was we were trying to focus on playing hard until the end."

New York's best period was the second when it outshot Boston 16-9. The Rangers then allowed two goals in the third.

"We gave it to them," said Lundqvist, last year's Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie. "I thought we played great. I didn't think they had to work really hard to get a couple goals there. We just made it really tough on ourselves."

Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series will be played in New York on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

The Rangers played their best period of the series in the second, but Brad Marchand gave Boston a 4-2 lead just 26 seconds into the third.

Patrice Bergeron carried the puck in deep on the right side and passed across the crease to Marchand, who had gotten behind defenseman Dan Girardi for a tip-in.

"We felt really good going into the third, and to have that type of goal go in — it's just two-on-two — it hurts you," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "We couldn't generate anything, and then they're just going to fill the middle and they're just going to jam you."

The Bruins went ahead to stay, 3-2, at 12:08 of the second period when Boychuk, who had one goal in the regular season, shot a 40-footer inside the near post for his third playoff goal.

The shot got through several players before it sailed past Lundqvist.

"It was definitely a screen," Boychuk said. "All I had to do was hit the net because there were a couple of guys in front of him."

Boston never trailed as rookie Torey Krug scored the first goal before Rangers captain Ryan Callahan tied it. Gregory Campbell made it 2-1, and New York pulled even again on Rick Nash's goal, his first of the playoffs after he led the Rangers with 21 in the regular season.

Now the Rangers find themselves in a familiar position, down 0-2.

They lost the first two games of their first-round series in Washington, won the next two in New York before losing Game 5 on the road. But Lundqvist posted consecutive shutouts in Games 6 and 7 against the Capitals when the Rangers faced elimination.

"We've done it before," Lundqvist said, "but I think we are playing a better team now so it's going to be tough to do it."

There's also the matter of his left shoulder that was hit by Daniel Paille's shot in the third period. Lundqvist rubbed it after the game and said, "We'll take a look at it."

Tuukka Rask was solid again for Boston, stopping 35 shots.

"You have to give Tuukka a lot of credit," Julien said. "Turnovers and giveaways in the second period are not something we do too much, and it could have been disastrous."

After the second period, "I told guys to play to win," he said. "I don't like our team when we are back on our heels and protecting a one-goal lead that way."

Marchand gave the Bruins a two-goal advantage when he scored on a play just like the one that gave Boston a 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night.

"It was very similar. I was kind of hanging back there backdoor, and Bergy made an unbelievable pass again," he said. "It's always good to get a couple-goal lead early in the third."

Lucic made it 5-2 at 12:39. He skated into the New York end and gave the puck to David Krejci, who was stopped by Lundqvist, but Lucic converted the rebound.

The last time Lundqvist allowed more than four goals was March 9, 2011, in a 5-2 loss to Anaheim. In the next 151 games, in the regular season and playoffs, he allowed four goals just 13 times.

Tortorella remains confident despite the five goals Lundqvist gave up Sunday

"I don't need to evaluate Henrik," he said. "We know what Henrik is."

It takes more than consecutive losses to rattle Lundqvist.

"I'm confident I'm going to go home and try to play a strong game in the next one," he said.

After a series in which the teams were basically even throughout the first game and the first two periods of the second, the Bruins aren't overconfident.

"We didn't play our best," Marchand said. "They had a lot of opportunities that if they would've converted on, then it would be a completely different story right now. I think especially in the second period, they took it to us, but we were able to bounce back. It's definitely a very even series."

NOTES: Lundqvist has started New York's last 29 games against Boston. … The Bruins played their second consecutive game without injured veteran defensemen Andrew Ference, Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden. … A Bruins defenseman got a goal or an assist on each of the team's goals. … The margin of victory was more than two goals for just the second time in 26 games between the Rangers and Bruins. … In their nine playoff games, the Rangers have scored just twice on 35 power plays. They are 0-for-7 against the Bruins.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

The Blackhawks mob Brent Seabrook after his series-winning overtime goal defeated the Red Wings in Game 7 in Chicago. Seabrook's winner gave Chicago a 2-1 win and clinched a 4-3 series victory.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick covers the puck as San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns skates into the crease during third period action in Game 7 at Staples Center.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports

Actor Tom Cruise looks on as San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture breaks the stick of Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown after a check in the second period of Game 7 at Staples Center.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo (28) take a tumble in the second period in game six of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena.
Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl (4) attempts to steal the puck away from Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) in the first period in game six of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena.
Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp (10) is checked by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the third period in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton (22) fights with New York Rangers forward Derek Dorsett (15) in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden.
Michael Ivins, USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins celebrate an empty net goal against the New York Rangers during the final seconds in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. The Bruins won the game 3-1 and the series 4-1.
Michael Ivins, USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell (11) celebrates after scoring a goal against New York Rangers forward Micheal Haley (32) in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden.
Michael Ivins, USA TODAY Sports

New York Rangers forward Micheal Haley (32) and defenseman Dan Girardi (5) look on as referees try to break up a fight between Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton (22) and Rangers forward Derek Dorsett (15) in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden.
Michael Ivins, USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (left) and center Sidney Crosby (right) congratulate left wing James Neal (center) on his goal against the Ottawa Senators during the second period in Game 5.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport USA TODAY Sports

San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers gets called for boarding on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr in the second period of Game 5 of the second round at the Staples Center.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

New York Rangers players surround left wing Chris Kreider after he scores the game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins during overtime in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Horton celebrates with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and defenseman Torey Krug after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Douglas Murray (3) blocks a shot as Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone (16) and defenseman Chris Phillips (4) look on in the second period in game four of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports USA Today Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) is knocked into the Ottawa Senators goal by defenseman Marc Methot (3) in the first period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson (11) and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby (87) fight for control of the puck in the first period in game four of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) falls while chasing the puck with Ottawa Senators defenseman MarcMethot (3) in the first period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun (92) makes a save on a shot by the Ottawa Senators in the second period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) clears the puck following a shot on goal by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Sharks center Logan Couture (39) celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime against the Kings in San Jose. Couture's winner gave San Jose a 2-1 victory and cut Los Angeles' series lead to 2-1.
Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports

Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula (51) celebrates his third-period goal during Game 2 against the Blackhawks in Chicago. Filppula and Detroit rolled to a 4-1 win to even the series at a game apiece.
Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates after a goal by center Trevor Lewis (22) in the third period against the San Jose Sharks during game two. The Kings defeated the Sharks 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton (18) gets knocked off the puck by New York Rangers forward Brian Boyle (22) and New York Rangers forward Ryan Callahan (24) during the second period of game one.
Michael Ivins, USA TODAY Sports